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Chapter 139: The Balance of Power
Near the waters of Alabasta, on a Marine warship flying the flag of a snow-white seagull.
"What do you mean 'let me be the hero who saved Alabasta'? I already reported it! The ones who defeated Crocodile were that group of rookie pirates, not me!"
Smoker's roar nearly blew the roof off the cabin.
He gripped the Scroll Phone (Den Den Mushi) in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force, veins popping on his forehead.
"Although I hate to admit it, the fact is that they overturned Crocodile's conspiracy and effectively saved this country!"
"And we Marines... knew nothing, did nothing! What right do we have to seize this credit?!!"
His interrogation was so loud that even the Marines on duty on the deck heard it clearly.
Several young Marines exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to speak up. They knew their Captain's temper too well; this man would rather be demoted and punished than accept credit that didn't belong to him.
The other end of the Den Den Mushi was silent for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by Smoker's sudden outburst.
But soon, a voice that had been adjusted to sound gentle came through:
"Smoker, I know you must be uncomfortable with this. But this matter concerns the prestige and face of the Marines. For the sake of the bigger picture, you must be this 'hero.' This is a decision made by the Marine higher-ups after discussion."
"Bastard!" Smoker slammed his fist onto the table. "For the sake of so-called face, even the truth can be covered up? I don't accept it!"
"...You need to calm down, Smoker. How about this... you don't need to handle the follow-up matters in Alabasta. Transfer full authority to Hina, and you return to Headquarters as soon as pos—"
Clack.
Before the last few words could be spoken, Smoker, with anger rushing to his head, slammed the receiver down.
The cabin fell into a dead silence, with only the sound of Smoker's heavy breathing echoing in the air.
"Damn it...!"
His chest heaved violently with rage, and dense white smoke poured uncontrollably from his body. The smoke quickly filled the entire cabin, turning the field of vision into a vast expanse of white.
Click.
The cabin door was pushed open.
"Captain Smoker, that... Cough, cough, cough!"
Tashigi had just leaned half her body in when she was choked by the onrushing thick smoke, coughing repeatedly. She hurriedly covered her nose and mouth, her glasses instantly fogging up.
The young female officer struggled to fumble forward in the smoke, finally finding her superior, who was currently "smoking," in front of the desk.
"Captain... Captain Hina is here..." She waved her hand to disperse the smoke in front of her while reporting, "She said she wants to meet with you to discuss how to pursue... cough... that group of pirates who disappeared."
Hearing this, Smoker, who had been silent, suddenly raised his head.
"Let's go."
Smoker spat out a short phrase. He grabbed the coat draped over the back of the chair and threw it on, picking up the Jitte that never left his side with his other hand.
He strode toward the cabin door, the white smoke around him slowly being drawn back into his body with his movements.
"No matter what, I will definitely catch them on the Grand Line, using my own methods."
"I believe in you, Captain Smoker!" Tashigi looked up at the tall figure before her and said with reverence.
On the other side.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford. Fleet Admiral's Office.
"So, that's what Smoker said?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku put down the documents in his hand and looked up at the high-ranking officer who had just reported the situation.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
The officer wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead. Although Sengoku wasn't angry, the pressure was always intangibly present in front of this "The Resourceful General."
"Captain Smoker was quite emotional and hung up directly."
Sengoku, Garp, and Admiral Kizaru, who happened to be cutting his nails in the office, had different expressions upon hearing this.
"Smoker isn't wrong. The Marines shouldn't cover up the truth for the sake of face."
"Bwahahaha!"
On the sofa to the side, Vice Admiral Garp laughed without any image, holding a bag of rice crackers in his hand. "That brat is just as tough as before! I like him!"
"Garp, keep it down!"
Sengoku glanced at his old friend, then turned his gaze back to the reporter. "Smoker is right."
These words stunned the people in the office for a moment. Even a certain slacking Admiral, who was methodically trimming his nails on the corner sofa, raised his eyes slightly.
Sengoku picked up the tea cup on the table, gently blew away the heat on the surface, took a sip, and then continued:
"Indeed, the Marines should not cover up the truth for the sake of so-called face. On this point, Smoker is correct."
"However."
Sengoku's tone remained steady but carried a heavy weight.
"We cannot let Crocodile's personal mistake affect the cooperative relationship between the Seven Warlords system and the World Government."
He put down the tea cup, folded his hands on the table, and swept his gaze over everyone in the office:
"The Warlords, the Marines, and the Four Emperors—the delicate balance between these three powers plays a vital role in the peace and stability of the entire world. This balance has been maintained for so many years; it cannot be easily dismantled just because of the corruption of a single Crocodile."
The room was quiet for a moment.
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